Police in Portland, Oregon, detained a naked man over the weekend after he attempted to abduct a 7-year-old girl from her mother at a waterfront park.
Just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Portland Police received calls about a naked man running through Tom McCall Waterfront Park. One individual reported that the man tried to punch them in the head.
However, at that time, all officers were occupied with other calls and could not immediately respond.
Approximately 12 minutes later, another call came in reporting that the man had grabbed a young girl and tried to pull her away from her mother.
Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the suspect swimming in the nearby Willamette River.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Daniel Vasey, was taken into custody and booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center. He faces charges including first and second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree custodial interference, third-degree assault, and harassment.
According to police, the 7-year-old girl sustained minor injuries. She was treated for scratches at the scene by paramedics but did not require hospital transport.
Investigations revealed that Vasey had seized the girl’s arm, prompting her parents and bystanders to intervene and stop the abduction, police stated.
The girl’s mother held onto her other arm, attempting to prevent Vasey from taking her, resulting in a struggle that lifted the child off the ground.
The father, along with bystanders, intervened by striking the suspect, which led to the girl being released. One individual used pepper spray to deter Vasey from approaching others.
The family, who were tourists from out of state, informed officers of their visit to Portland.
